WASHINGTON, DC - When it comes to boosting fruit and vegetable consumption, one of the most effective strategies is to equip professionals and influencers who can best reach their communities and encourage consumers to make healthy food choices.

Health professionals have a great influence on dietary choices, a press release noted. But medical research studies aren’t easy for consumers to access or understand, and outcomes often seem at odds. For this reason, social influencers also have a strong effect on consumer food selections and habits. For example, 65% of consumers claim that they shop at grocery stores, dine at restaurants, or purchase brands with values that are mostly aligned with their own. And, according to a report from the Ketchum Say Eat Gap, 70% of Gen Z follow a food-driven personality on social media.

That’s why The Foundation for Fresh Produce prioritizes providing health professionals and influencers with educational resources to help empower consumers to enjoy more fruits and vegetables. The newly released “Have A Plant® Influencer Toolkit: Seasonality” provides turnkey content and inspiration that supports the important work these professionals and influencers do each day.

“Creating unified messaging together can have a greater impact on breaking through mis- and dis-information and be more effective at improving fruit and vegetable consumption,” said Katie Calligaro, Director, Marketing & Communications, The Foundation for Fresh Produce. “Considering the global scope of the human health crisis, it’s essential that health professionals and influencers are equipped to guide consumers to their healthiest food choices. Consumers need accurate information to embrace the benefits of a diet packed with fruits and vegetables.”

Part of the beauty of fresh fruits and vegetables is that something’s always in season. And people always want to learn more about what they can find in their community – and when.

Seasonality is consistently one of the top searched topics online and top performing topics on social media. The “Have A Plant® Influencer Toolkit: Seasonality” provides information on what's in season by region, sample social media posts with photos, turnkey ideas for activations in retail, foodservice, online and more.

“Toolkits that provide curated content all in one place makes my day-to-day responsibilities easier when talking to our shoppers and provide credible information that resonates,” says April Sins, MS, RDN, LDN, Rouses Markets. “As part of our stores' commitment to helping people eat more fruits and vegetables, it’s invaluable for me as the sole Retail Dietitian to stay connected and leverage what the rest of the Have A Plant® community is talking about and when. The seasonality toolkit is one we will be able to use all year long, so this is exciting!”

The Seasonality Toolkit is available for use by produce marketers and influencers alike on the Educational Resources page of fruitsandveggies.org. Quarterly themed toolkits are also available for more targeted monthly retail and foodservice activations.